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    G. W. Tavern

    3.8 (263 reviews)
    ModerateAmerican, Bars
    Closed Closed

    G. W. Tavern Photos

    G. W. TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - G. W. Tavern

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    Emily F.

    Delicious burgers (and fries), strong drinks (loved the mulled cider), welcoming staff, and a beautiful fireplace. This spot has a very homey vibe. The only minor complaint I can think of is the the taste of the water, which I think other reviewers mentioned. It just tastes a little off, maybe sulfur-like? Besides that, it was a really nice spot for an early dinner. My mom and I both enjoyed it!

    Lobster Spaghetti
    Jodie S.

    5 Star friend review - "The food was SOOO good...I don't remember the last time I cleaned my plate!" A friend of mine recently had dinner at GW Tavern in Washington Depot, CT, and wow - this place exceeded her every expectation. Ordered the Lobster Spaghetti (lobster, perfectly cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, and a rich, flavorful sauce) paired with a great bottle of wine. Every bite was incredible - rich but balanced, perfectly seasoned, and made with fresh ingredients. She told me, "Honestly can't remember the last time I cleaned my plate like this. The food was THAT good. The atmosphere was cozy yet lively, service was attentive without being overbearing, and everything felt like it was made with care." If you're anywhere near Washington Depot, you have to try this place. I'd give it 10 stars if I could.

    Pork Ragu
    Ben S.

    Came here after seeing a local town Facebook post mentioning that this was the place in the area for sticky toffee pudding. Glad I made a reservation that day because when we showed up at 6:30 on a Friday it was packed. Had to wait for someone to pull out so we could get a parking spot. Tables were tight together but we were seated right next to the fireplace which was very nice. I wasn't planning on getting a beer but the water tasted weird. I couldn't decide on a beer so had our server (Isaiah btw was awesome) bring me a couple samples. I picked and a few minutes later a beer came out. It didn't look like or taste like I expected. My wife told me I was probably wrong and I was just going to settle but Isaiah told me it was incorrect and brought the right one. I believe he comped it too. Wasn't planning on an app either but the Brussels sprouts were too interesting to not try and I'm glad we did. For entrees my wife had the pork Normandy which was very good. I originally wanted the weiner schnitzel but they were sold out so I got the pork ragu. The portion was fine, but smaller than expected and incredibly salty, to the point where some was still crystallized. I liked it fine but I could see other people hating it. Obviously we got the sticky toffee pudding. The portion was very large and we could probably have split one, but did order two. I've driven by this place many times but never knew it was there and would have driven by many more before noticing it. Will definitely come back again someday.

    Apps
    Elena K.

    Cute spot for some drinks and apps. It was gorgeous out so we sat on the patio. The service was slow to non-existent from the minute we sat down. Drinks and food were good but even when we specifically asked for something it seemed to fall on deaf ears. Additionally the server seemed to be angry or irritated for some reason, she was quite short/rude with our party (for instance: dropping off drinks without a single word as to if we needed anything, never checking on us once the runners brought our food, never ever had our water refilled and it was a warm day) We ordered oysters (fried and raw), potato skins, beet salad, pear salad and shrimp. The oysters were great but the raw ones were not on ice and it was a warm day. We asked for Tabasco sauce for the oysters and by the time it came out the oysters were pretty warm. Potato skins & salads were good, the shrimp a little over cooked. Our friends assured us this was the first time they have had sub par service but the place was not busy at all and it didn't seem reasonable. Generously giving 4 stars because most of the food was great and the patio was a nice spot to sit.

    Chicken pot pie
    Michael T.

    The restaurant is beautiful. I love the cabin like feel. I like how diverse the menu is. The quality of the food is pretty good. Some dishes are a miss. The service is wonderful.

    Fried Brussel sprouts with red miso caramel, apple, and togarashi (Brussels)
    Susan K.

    ORIGIN: Although the namesake of the town and restaurant did not visit the tavern -- the building was constructed in the mid-19th century -- George Washington reportedly stayed at an inn in the community. The building transformed into G.W. Tavern in 1996. LOCATION: G.W. Tavern invites opportunity to dine alongside the Shepaug River, at times accompanied by the scent of a wood-burning fireplace, or the sounds of local musicians. I like that it is set apart, perched on top of a hill overlooking the Shepaug River. Yet within walking distance you can see an art exhibit or browse for a new book. CONCEPT: G.W. Tavern offers American tavern fare, as well as a few twists on classics (e.g fried Brussel sprouts with caramelized red miso), as well as a few continental (e.g. Wiener Schnitzel) and Asian dishes (e.g. pork belly bao). EXPERIENCE: I visited during ithe inaugural Washington Restaurant Week. Restaurant Week is conventionally arranged to attract new customers, as well as long lost customers, via a menu that highlights some of the best each restaurant has to offer, but at price that reduces the potential customers' sense of risk. G.W. Tavern fully embraced participating in Washington's inaugural Restaurant Week with a $30 prix fixe tasting menu. Despite living nearby, my last visit was well before the current owner and chef took helm. Restaurant Week nudged me to return to scout out some intriguing innovative menu items with a friend, and I was so impressed I returned later in the week with my family. G.W. Tavern is now on our list of "go to" restaurants in Litchfield County! AMBIANCE: G.W. Tavern is filled with George Washington artifacts associated with the tavern and its location. In this way the tavern is grounded in history. Patio seating is available in warm weather. TIPS: Here's my recommendation for first time visitors : * Fried Brussel Sprouts with red miso caramel, cubes of apples, and togarashi seasoning * Hudson Valley Duck Breast (medium rare) with sour cherry juice, duck fat potatoes, and haricot vert * Glass of Pinot Noir from Banshee Vineyard * Warm Sticky Toffee Pudding with whipped cream. If the tavern is crowded I suggest avoiding the wooden bench seating as some wiggle if there are multiple guests seated on the opposite side.

    Ambience food was too good and forgot pics!

    This is the Best Hidden Gem we have been to in a while! The ambience was Amazing our waiter was great and the Food did not disappoint at All! The schnitzel both Veal and Pork with spatzal was great! The pork bolognese was the bomb! We did not have the desserts there but did get the sticky toffee pudding, cherry pie, and cookies to take home and even though day after they are Great! Wish they were closer to our house!

    Yummy blueberry mule, with fresh blueberries and house grown mint!

    Beautiful setting on the Shepaug River with spacious outdoor seating and a cozy, wood-burning fireplace inside. The food is made fresh, in-house--no processed or frozen ingredients--just real farm-to-table flavor. Chef Sean Tompkins brings incredible care to every dish. Also, amazing drink specials! I had a Blueberry Mule with fresh blueberries and house-grown mint, and a fresh lemon basil martini that was perfectly balanced and refreshing. One of the best dining experiences in Litchfield County--can't wait to go back!

    Apparently this is eggs benedict
    Brit B.

    I have been looking forward to coming here because I enjoy older restaurants and it surprisingly has good reviews. The restaurant itself is very nice and historical but it is a shame that the food and service are atrocious. We ordered potato skins and French onion soup for appetizers. It took awhile to get our order taken even though it was not busy. A different server brought me tomato bisque and completely blackened potato skins. The tomato bisque was quickly replaced with the french onion soup which was the only enjoyable thing about this experience. The potato skins were overcooked and inedible. I can't believe the kitchen would send something like that out but my mom does not like to complain so we kept them. Our entrees came out which were the chicken pot pie and eggs Benedict. The pot pie had no flavor or salt. The hollandaise on the Benedict was completely split and the eggs were completely cooked through. Again, I could not believe the kitchen would send that out. I sent it back and did not request a replacement. The server was slow and did not apologize. We definitely won't be back and will caution others to not go here.

    David H.

    Food quality / price (value) rating 7.5. The atmosphere is colonial tavern. We've been coming to this late 1700's tavern for decades. We frequently come during the Summer to sit outside on one of their incredible multi-level outdoor patios overlooking a beautiful river, where you can sit in the shade of giant oak trees. There are two indoor dining rooms and a 10 seat bar. The menu is a pretty standard tavern menu. There is a real wood burning fireplace in the bar area that gets fired up during the cold weather. Typically, the food is very good. This trip, we started with an appetizer of jalapeno corn bread. I couldn't taste any jalapeno. They used to serve a really good mixed bread basket before your meal , but that is no longer the case. For an entree, I had the Shrimp Scampi over linguine. The shrimp wasn't sauteed on high enough heat, and lacked the added flavor that proper sauteing provides. The sauce on the linguine also lacked flavor, and the portion was not very large. The wife had the Pork Schnitzel entree, which also was lacking flavor. The entrees are served ala carte (no bread or salad). The service by Amanda was great. For dessert, we split a Sticky Toffee Pudding with added vanilla ice cream which was excellent. This was on a Sunday evening, so it's possible the regular chef wasn't in house, and this could be why the food was a little bland. We'll still come here because the experience is great even when the food is a little off.

    the interior of a restaurant
    Tricia B.

    It was appropriate for a rainy day. GW Tavern is known for hopping in the warmer weather, but the somewhat dark lighting with the austere fireplace and fairy lights overhead were fitting. There was a brighter back room, but any outdoor seating was a wash. I love the paint job, with even the plugs incorporated into the design. The New England clam chowder was a little thin, but full of potatoes, clams, and the like. Overall it had a good flavor. The turkey sandwich was on delicious, crunchy bread that melted in your mouth, and the ingredients were obviously fresh. For soup and a sandwich, it was a great meal! The employees were all very friendly, they allowed me to pick my own table (it was also a slow day, mind) and there was no feeling of rush to have to leave. The waiter came by at least twice to check to make sure everything was okay.

    Potato skins

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    4 months ago

    Good food, nice historical place. Ambience was also very nice. Would definitely stop by again

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    10 months ago

    Excellent service. Friendly, knowledgeable staff. Beautiful outdoor seating. Delicious cocktails.

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    Perfusion Bar

    Perfusion Bar

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    19.1 mi

    The owners are so down to earth and know how to make a high quality drink!…read more The first time I came here was when they were pretty new and it's been busy ever since. They had a little booklet menu of at least a dozen espresso martini variations with high quality liquor and specialty liqueurs from multiple countries. If you're not a drinker and want a coffee in the morning, to catch up on work or meet some friends, this is still a cute place. They serve espresso drinks all day.

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    Perfusion Bar - Purple Moustache

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    Spelunkers

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    I made it back for trivia night! We had an AWESOME time!…read more The two bartenders were so attentive and friendly for the entirety of the night, we were never in need of anything. The mule is definitely my favorite drink here, it's been made perfectly each time I had it. We had a big group, so we ordered a variety of bar bites and I'm thoroughly impressed with the quality of all the food. Especially the garlic bread, wow!!! It was piping hot, fresh and fluffy and just perfect. The host for trivia did a fantastic job and created a super fun event for us. The questions were general-knowledge enough that mostly anyone could have participated. Somehow our team won and the prizes were so fun!! More people need to know about this place!!

    Went to Spelunkers back on March 22 to check out some live music that they had that night. Good…read morelive music in Southington is hard to come by in the area. I used to go down the street, but the music selection there changed. For those of you frequent to Southington, Spelunkers took over the old Dial 9 speakeasy location. It's a competitive food area and I didn't know what to expect. I'm happy to say that for being marketed as strictly a dive bar, Spelunkers hit all the marks and some. It also was surprisingly large inside compared to what it looked like from the outside (Which was great because some of the other bars nearby are cramped). Their burgers were good and my friends felt the same way about the food that they ordered as wll. They have ample seating (and a variety of it) as well as a pool table and some arcade games to do while listening to music. Prices for drinks were also fair. The interaction that I had with staff, although brief was very friendly. The band they had that night was excellent. Glad I came to see them. They played an eclectic mix of both genres and decades. They were energetic, their song choice were great and they were refreshing to see compared to the typical Southington fare. If they come back to Spelunkers, I'll free my schedule up to come and see. Been watching the socials . Happy to have a fun bar experience again around here and look forward to my next trip.

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    Spelunkers
    Spelunkers
    Spelunkers - Entrance

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    Entrance

    The Local Sixty-Three - Bruschetta with apple

    The Local Sixty-Three

    4.5(44 reviews)
    10.6 mi

    I went here for a party, and it comfortably held our group of eight. Our waitress was very patient…read moreand accommodating, and they had facilities of two per gender to be used. Everything was very clean. Parking was a bit of a struggle - there was street parking above, below, and across, and a huge lot in the back. Supposedly there's a backdoor from the lower lot - those who tried found it to be locked. The food was delicious - my local burger was cooked medium, and the fries were little circles! They were well cooked but some had much more salt then others

    We were looking for a new place to try and came across here. Service was on point, bartender very…read morefriendly, got our drinks quickly and they were tasty. The menu looked pretty good so we started with some apps. Beer cheese- definitely a different twist than I expected but it was great. Very flavorful, really beer forward. The bruschetta was ridiculously amazing!! The cucumber salsa was missing something but ok, needed some acid or heat. My disappointment started when they brought out our meal, (we still had two apps to go, I hate my meal coming out with or before the rest of our apps. I had the hot honey chicken and NE Clam chowder. The chowder was brown and was not what I was looking for, I packaged up to go. It was primarily the brown I assume the roux went farther than it should have or there is something else in it.. The hot honey chicken was ok, the chicken was paper thin , tasted mostly arugula no heat, no sweet... I'd switch out the bread for a roll next time and douse it with hot sauce. The cottage fries are out of this world and I would come back for beverages and those!! My partner had the biria sandwich which was fire, also had a salad which was really good as well. The cookies are really amazing! Actual Dessert- I am struggling with we opted for the Chocolate cake which was literally melting- did not think it was ice cream so not sure why we had a puddle in a box when we got home. I want to try other things, as we had some good and some not so good, so we'll be back and update again after another try.

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    The Local Sixty-Three
    The Local Sixty-Three
    The Local Sixty-Three - Cesar salad

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    Cesar salad

    G. W. Tavern - tradamerican - Updated June 2026

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